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President Donald Trump on Friday removed 50% tariffs on selected Canadian goods, aiding Maine businesses as Republican Senator Susan Collins faces a tight reelection race. The order covers imports used by farmers and manufacturers but also imposes the same steep duties on new Canadian products. Republicans face competitive Senate races ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake.
Collins had pressed the White House to review tariffs that raised costs for companies and agricultural producers in her home state. Maine shares a border with Canada, and many local businesses rely on supplies from across it.
The exemption list includes plywood sheets, certain paper products, some machinery, refrigeration equipment, packaging crates and boxes, and fresh and dried seaweed. The White House outlined those changes on Friday.
For Maine's blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed growers, the change affects items that support daily operations. Collins said some suppliers cannot source specialized equipment or packing materials domestically without taking on major replacement costs.
Collins called those producers important to the rural and coastal economy. Her statement welcomed the changes after months of friction between Washington and Ottawa over tariffs. Her request focused on supplies for farms and local businesses, rather than a full rollback of the administration's trade measures.
The White House also expanded the 50% tariff list. Newly covered goods include carpets, paints, waste, shampoo, cocoa powder, wooden coffins, ice cream sticks, air-conditioning machines, chest freezers, archery equipment, and canoes. The action shifts which products face the levy but leaves the wider trade dispute unresolved.
Trump introduced the 50% duties in August on USD 20 billion in Canadian imports after bilateral talks broke down. Canada responded in September with tariffs of 15% to 50% on USD 20 billion in American goods.
That dispute has affected cross-border supply chains in Maine and Michigan, where businesses buy products ranging from lumber to automotive parts and fruit-picking equipment. Each state has a closely watched Senate race.
White House spokesperson Matthew Middleton said the latest measures refine the scope of existing tariffs while addressing what the administration regards as Canada's unfair treatment of US commerce.
Trump said Friday that Canada was working toward a deal. Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa was assessing the adjustments and remained ready for constructive talks that protect Canadian interests.
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Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson, with polls indicating a close race. The two candidates clashed over trade policy during their October 6 debate, bringing the tariff dispute directly into the campaign.
After Trump's order, Jackson blamed the president's trade wars for higher costs in Maine. He also criticized Collins for supporting administration officials behind the tariffs and then claiming credit for partial relief.
Collins did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jackson's remarks. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, also criticized the timing of the exemptions. Wyden said trade taxes had raised prices on goods American households buy, and argued that voters would remember those increases.
The debate extends beyond Maine. Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who earlier urged an end to the Canada trade conflict, praised tariffs aimed at Canadian waste entering his state.
In Kansas, Trump withdrew a threatened restriction on Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier this week. The company employs 1,500 people in Wichita, and Republican Senator Roger Marshall joined lawmakers seeking to stop the ban.
Marshall, like Collins, faces a difficult reelection fight. Republican candidates in northern border states have tried to appeal to Trump's supporters without losing independent voters concerned about tariff costs.
Trump's order removes some 50% tariffs on Canadian goods used in Maine while adding other products to the duty list. Collins welcomed relief for growers amid a close Senate campaign. Canada is reviewing the changes, and both governments remain at odds over tariffs imposed earlier this year.
